Trekking
With the stunning Himalayas covering 64% of the country there are some fantastic opportunities for trekking in Nepal. In fact it is arguably the best country in the world for treks and hikes. Temples, monasteries and lakes scattered around the mountain side no matter which trek you choose there will be some great sights and experiences. Watching the sunrise and set behind the Himalayas is wonderful.
There are so many treks in Nepal it would be very hard to write about them all, however the two most famous ones are the trek to base-camp of the world’s tallest highest mountain and the Annapurna Circuit.
It is always best to book any trek through a reputable agent where your safety is paramount. Hiking boots are advisable due to uneven terrain. Check weather conditions carefully, so that you are not trekking in monsoon season or expecting it to be hot when the weather is actually cold.
National Parks
There are nine national parks, three wildlife reserves and three conservation areas in Nepal, this equates to 18% of Nepal having protected land. The majority of people head to Royal Chitwan National Park. This is by far the most famous park in Nepal and covers 932km2 of sal forest, water marshes and grasslands. The biggest draw and reason most people visit is that it is home to the endangered Indian one-horned rhino and there is a good chance to spot tigers and leopards.
The other parks are pretty and worth seeing but they are not really on the main tourist trail.
Food
Unlike a lot of its’ neighbours Nepali food is not that fantastic, basically it is rice with vegetables. However there is a wide variety of Tibetan, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and western food available. A large proportion of Nepal is vegetarian, however those that do it meat pretty much eat all of the animal. Try bul-la which is dregs of rice-wine with diced spleen or ti-syah, friend spinal marrow or how about swan-puka which is lungs filled through the windpipe with spicy batter and then boiled, sliced and fried and finished off with steamed blood pudding.
Even if the main meals are no fantastic, the Nepalese do make some lovely sticky sweets though.
Drink
It is best to avoid the water. Although most restaurants do boil and filter their water. Tea here is not great, it tends to be very weak. Lassi is a delicious non-alcoholic drink made from yogurt mixed with sugar.
Nepal does produce some decent beer, generally perceived to be the best is Everest beer, but you can also get some imported beer such as Kingfisher or Guinness.
Independent Nepal Travel – Top ten experiences
1). Trek to Everest base-camp
2). The Annapurna circuit trek
3). Spending a few days exploring Kathmandu
4). Chitwan National Park
5). Flight to see Everest
6). Visiting Bhaktapur
7). Relaxing with a cold beer by Pokhara lake
8). Poonhill trek
9). White-water rafting
10). 160m bungee jump (one of the largest in the world) at Bhote Kosi, (12km from the Tibetan border)
